Pineleaf Beardtongue
Penstemon pinifolius 'Luminous'
Description | A new, compact selection perfect for sunny, low-water gardens, with a late spring explosion of color. Showy spikes of nectar-rich, orange tubular flowers with an inner glimmer of yellow give off a luminescent glow. Attracts hummingbirds and pollinators. Thrives in lean soils with little care, and pairs beautifully with lavender. Evergreen. |
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Light | Full sun |
Watering | Water when top 2 inches of soil is dry. |
Blooms | Late spring to early summer |
Mature Size | Neat, mounded clump reaches 8 to 10 in. tall, 12 to 15 in. wide. |
Deciduous/Evergreen | Evergreen |
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Special Features | Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Easy Care, North American Native Selection, Waterwise, Fast Growing, Compact Form, Benefits Birds |
Problems/Solutions | Rabbit Resistant |
Growth Rate | Moderate |
Flower Attributes | Showy Flowers |
Design Ideas | The hot colored flower spikes of this tough, adaptable perennial compliment the cool blues of other sun loving perennials such as catmint, English lavender and European sage. Thrives in lean, unimproved soils but adapts nicely to garden culture, provided the soil is fast draining and not overly-enriched. Perfect for slopes, uncultivated settings, and bird-friendly, nature-inspired landscapes. Tuck next to a boulder grouping in a rock garden, or plant next to a sunny patio to watch hummingbirds flock to the nectar-rich flowers. Mass in a dry border to create a bright swath, or randomly space through a large bed to provide splashes of late spring color. Create spring to fall interest by pairing with low evergreen shrubs and ground-hugging conifers such as mugo pine and juniper, rugged summer and fall blooming perennials and grasses such as echinacea and blue gramma grass, along with a waterwise ground cover such as sedum or creeping thyme, or simply a gravel mulch. |
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Flower Color | Orange |
Foliage Color | Green |
Companion Plants | Coneflower (Echinacea); Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia); Catmint (Nepeta); Lavender (Lavandula); European Sage (Salvia superba) |
Care | Provide lean, well-drained soil; avoid highly enriched soils. Plant with top of root ball just above soil line. Mulch with gravel or pine needles in arid climates. Plants establish quickly; water regularly for 8 to 10 weeks, then reduce to occasional deep soakings during dry weather. Remove spent flowers for a neat appearance. Feed very sparingly in fall. |
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Lore | "A wildflower superstar", this western native penstemon introduction was chosen as High Country Gardens' 2016 Plant of the Year, and is a 2016 Green Thumb award-winner. The nectar-rich flowers of this species is of special value to pollinating insect populations; Penstemon pinifolius is recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of native bees. |
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This Plant's Growing Zones: 5-9

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About Us
We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly
100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr.
in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.
We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly 100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr. in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.